VZCZCXRO5896
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHCV #1099 2202124
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 072124Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1588
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1008
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001099 
 
SIPDIS 
 
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD, USAID/OTI FOR RPORTER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: BRV DEFENSIVE ABOUT MERCOSUR HUMAN RIGHTS VISIT 
 
REF: CARACAS 1060 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Fernandez 
for Reason 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1. (SBU)  Uruguayan congressional deputy and president of the 
MERCOSUR parliament's Human Rights Commission, Adriana Pena 
arrived on August 6 in Caracas.  All local media covered her 
arrival at the airport.  Members of the Venezuelan National 
Assembly (NA), Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro and other BRV 
officials promptly criticized her visit to Venezuela.  Pena 
explained that she came to listen to all sides and learn as 
much as possible about the "inhabilitados," 272 current and 
former officials ineligible to run for office.  Pena added 
that she would discuss her finding with the other MERCOSUR 
Human Rights Commission members and decide if a report would 
be presented to the full body. 
 
2.  (SBU)  AN Vice President Saul Ortega held an August 6 
press conference calling Pena's visit "interference" in 
Venezuela's internal affairs" and asked for the MERCOSUR 
parliament to impose disciplinary sanctions.  FM Maduro 
claimed Venezuela had "full democracy and freedom," warning 
any "right wing" politician that "messes with Venezuela" 
would face the consequences.  Carlous Wimmer, Vice President 
of the Venezuelan delegation to the Latin American Parliament 
called media coverage of Pena's visit part of a campaign to 
justify "political judicial, economic and military sanctions 
against Venezuela." 
 
3.  (C)  Comment: The strident Venezuelan response to 
fact-finding mission underscores the BRV's sensitivities over 
the supreme court's and comptroller's controversial decision 
concerning the "inhabilitados."  Venezuela's accession into 
MERCOSUR is an important step in Chavez' vision of Latin 
American integration.  A negative report on the BRV's 
democratic practices could present a major stumbling block. 
End Comment. 
DUDDY